Austin Air Quality Index: live AQI, pollen and weather
Understanding Austin’s air quality
Quick answer: The Air Quality Index (AQI) turns outdoor pollution levels into one number from 0 to 500. The EPA groups it into six bands: 0 to 50 is Good, 51 to 100 Moderate, 101 to 150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, 151 to 200 Unhealthy, 201 to 300 Very Unhealthy, and 301 and above Hazardous. The dashboard above shows today’s number for Austin, plus pollen and weather.
What drives Austin’s numbers?
- Ozone: hot, sunny, still days cook car and industrial exhaust into ground-level ozone. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issues Ozone Action Day alerts when levels are forecast to climb.
- Pollen: mountain cedar (Ashe juniper) peaks in December through February, oak in March and April, grasses into summer, and ragweed in the fall.
- Smoke and dust: wildfire and agricultural smoke, sometimes from as far as Mexico and Central America in spring, and dust from dry, windy days.
What can you do inside your home?
On bad-air days, keep windows closed, make sure your air filter is clean and correctly sized, and let your system recirculate indoor air. A good filter only works if air moves through it and the return side of your ductwork is sealed, so filtration and airflow go together.
Learn more in our filtration guides and indoor air quality guides, or see how we improve indoor air in Austin homes.